Khalsa College students turn garbage into green gains

The infamous Bhagtanwala dump in Amritsar has long been a major source of air pollution. Located near a densely populated residential area, this legacy landfill has released high concentrations of methane — a highly inflammable and toxic greenhouse gas — along with carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ammonia. With summer temperatures soaring, concerns are escalating as seasonal landfill fires continue to release toxic gases to Amritsar's air, which is now considered one of the most polluted.

However, there is a flash of hope amid the grim scenario. Recently, a team of students, scientists and faculty from Khalsa College for Women, Amritsar, successfully diverted 660 kg of biodegradable waste from the landfill through a student-led Zero Waste initiative. This waste was transformed into nutrient-rich compost, preventing the release of an estimated 0.66 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide — equivalent emissions — that would have otherwise further deteriorated the city's air quality.

Earlier this year, the college established the district's first Air Care Centre in partnership with Clean Air Punjab. The centre was inaugurated in February, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann later visiting the facility. Based on a zero-waste concept, the facility not just monitors air quality and release of emissions, but also charts out combative strategy involving cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions.

In this initiative, the students used specially designed composting pits to process garbage from landfills, reintegrating the resulting compost into the college's gardens. “This was the first real-world experience in climate mitigation for our students, and they they led from front in segregation and monitoring the entire process,” said Kumari Sita, Assistant Professor, Department of Botany and Environmental Sciences.

To break it down, by composting 660 kg of biodegradable waste, the students avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to driving 2,400 km in a car or using the energy needed to charge 75,000 smartphones. And these figures weren't just estimated-they were calculated by the students themselves as part of their fellowship training under the Air Care programme.

In conclusion, the students believe that by combining technological innovation with responsible waste management, "We can transform landfills from environmental burdens into sources of energy and valuable resources."